County Down Postmen's Holiday
75.
asked the Postmaster-General whether any application for annual leave from postmen at Bloomfield, county Down, have been refused; and, if so, for what reason?
One of the two postmen employed at Bloomfield, county Down, applied to take his annual leave from the 13th instant and the other from the 27th instant, but it was not possible to provide substitutes until the 27th instant. Arrangements have accordingly been made for the leave of these officers to begin on that date.
Overtime In Belfast Office
76.
asked whether the postmen in the sub-offices in the Belfast district receive over time pay for work above forty-eight hours per week; whether any application has been made for remuneration, owing to the prolonged deliveries; and, if so, what reply has been returned?
I am having inquiry made and will write to the hon. and gallant Member on the subject.
Telephone Service
77.
asked the Postmaster-General whether he is now in a position to grant the increases due to telephone call-office attendants, as recommended by the Holt Committee?
Instructions as to the adjustment of the pay of call-office attendants have now been issued, and payment of the increases due will be made as quickly as possible.
78.
asked the Postmaster-General whether the ex-National Telephone Company's staff employed as call-office attendants have made representations that they are suffering considerable loss through their transfer to the Post Office; whether 75 per cent. of them are losing 2s. 6d. per week or more in wages, while all are obliged to work extra hours without extra remuneration; whether the late Postmaster-General's statement that no one would suffer by the transfer was intended to apply to telephone call-office attendants; and, if so, whether he proposes to make any adjustment?
I am making inquiry in the matter, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
Wages And Conditions Of Employment (Committee)
79.
asked whether the question of the demarcation of the respective duties of sorting clerks and postmen will be brought before the new Post Office Committee for settlement; and whether this Committee is likely to commence its sittings at an early date?
It will be for the Committee to decide which questions, within the scope of their reference, they will consider. I hope the Committee will commence its sittings at an early date.
May we hope that the Committee will sit continuously and conclude their discussions as soon as possible?
I should think so.
Marconi Contract
80.
To ask the Postmaster-General if his attention has been called to the complaint of delay upon the part of the Government in completing the arrangements under the contract with Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company contained in the company's annual report; and if, in view of the urgency of the matter which was the ground on which the Government expedited the matter, he will explain the reasons for the delay which has taken place, and whether the Government is responsible therefor?
I would refer the hon. Member to the answer to a similar question by the hon. and gallant Member for Central Finsbury on the 16th instant. I have nothing to add to that answer.
May I ask whether the discussion that was necessary in the House of Commons owing to the action of some of His Majesty's Ministers is the cause of the delay?
It has nothing on earth to do with it.
Milnrow Mill Stream (Small-Pox)
82.
asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the stream near the mill at Milnrow, where small-pox recently broke out, was notorious for its insanitary condition; whether he is aware that the council had a tip on which sanitary carts had been emptied close by, and that the tip had been on fire for seven weeks and had given off a disgusting stench; will he say how it was possible to decide there was no epidemiological fact supporting the idea that small-pox can originate from such a source when the circumstances had not been investigated; and whether the general liability to small-pox in the United Kingdom has decreased in proportion as the Public Health Acts have been enforced?
According to my information, the condition of the stream is not exceptional compared with other streams in the mill districts of Lancashire. The nearest tip of the council is a quarter of a mile away. The tip has not been on fire recently, and it has no connection with the stream. I am advised that general medical knowledge was sufficient to enable it to be stated that there are no epidemiological facts supporting the theory that small-pox can originate in the manner suggested. It is fortunately true that during recent years greater attention has been devoted to perfecting public health administration, and that during this time there have been fewer serious outbreaks of small-pox.
83.
asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that in a list of smallpox cases at Milnrow, officially supplied under Section 8 of the Vaccination Act, 1898, by the clerk to the urban district council which maintains the hospital, were included the names of a police constable successfully revaccinated on joining the force two years ago and an unvaccinated child of two years; why these patients were included amongst small-pox if they were only suffering from measles; when and by whom was the alteration made in the diagnosis of these patients' complaints; and whether due weight will be accorded to this child's escape from smallpox, although brought into direct contact with the disease whilst in an unvaccinated condition?
I have not seen the list referred to, but I am informed that both the cases in question are registered at the hospital as cases of measles. They were originally diagnosed as small-pox, but, on admission to the hospital, they were examined by the Medical Superintendent, who concluded they were cases of measles and treated them in a block by themselves. The diagnosis of measles was confirmed by the subsequent history of the cases. The child referred to is not known to have been in direct contact with any case of small-pox. She was successfully vaccinated after admission to the hospital.
Education Grants (Necessitous School Areas)
84.
asked the President of the Board of Education whether it is proposed to submit, during the present Session, the necessary Supplementary Estimates in respect of the Grants for necessitous school areas and the feeding of school children; and, assuming that such Estimates are approved by the House, when it is proposed to pay these Grants to the local education authorities?
The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The Grant will be paid before the end of the financial year, but it is not possible to state the exact dates of payment as they depend largely on the dates on which the necessary particulars are received from the authorities.
Elementary School Teachers
85.
asked how many schemes for the recruitment of teachers, other than the bursarship and pupil teacher systems, have the Board of Education approved; what is the amount of the Grant that the Board have made for them; and what sum is available for such Grants in this year's Estimates?
The number of schemes which have been submitted for the approval of the Board under Chapter 8 of the Regulations for 1913 is four. None have yet been finally approved. The work upon which Grant will be paid will not be completed until the end of the educational year, and the Grant will be paid by the end of the financial year. It is not possible to say exactly what amount of the estimate, sub-head (e), will be available for Grants in aid of the schemes in question as the amount is dependent upon the amount paid in respect of certain other Grants, the total of which is not yet known; but it is anticipated that the amount available will be fully adequate.
86.
asked how many students it is estimated are leaving the training colleges this term; and what is the estimated number of teachers required in the school year by local education authorities?
The number of students other than certificated students leaving training colleges this term will be about 5,300. So far as the Board are able to estimate from the information given in the First Report of the Departmental Committee en the Superannuation of Teachers and from other sources, the number of certificated and uncertificated teachers leaving the profession permanently is at present about 7,000 per annum, but this figure makes no allowance for improvement of school staffs.
Are the Board of Education going to do nothing until the right hon. Gentleman appoints some Committee to inquire into this matter?
A great number of steps have been taken with regard to the matters mentioned in this question.
Does the right hon. Gentleman think it right to prosecute parents for not sending their children to schools which are purposely understaffed with teachers hopelessly inefficient?
We do not make Giants to schools which are inefficiently carried on.
Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiry as to the appointment of totally incompetent teachers to posts hitherto occupied by suitable teachers?
If the hon. Member will call my attention to any school which is inefficient in any respect, I will see it is remedied as soon as possible.
Stiklepath School, Devon
87.
asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to a dispute between the Devon Education Committee and the managers of Stiklepath School about the proposal of the committee to reduce the size of the playground of that school; and will he take steps to promote an amicable settlement of the dispute?
I have received a letter from the managers on the subject, and I am asking the local education authority for their observations thereon. I am also consulting His Majesty's inspector.
Madryn Estate (Small Holdings)
88.
asked the President of the Board of Agriculture when he will issue the promised Report dealing with the administration of the Madryn estate by the Carnarvonshire County Council under the Small Holdings Act; in what form the Report will be issued; and whether he will make special inquiries to elicit whether tenants have been distrained upon for rent who had only been eighteen months on their holdings?
It would be contrary to the well-established practice to publish the Report, but I will write fully to the hon. Gentleman on the subject when I have had an opportunity of considering the Report, which has not yet reached me. The latter part of the question refers to a matter for which the Board do not appear to be responsible.
Quinquennial Valuation (Metropolis)
89.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the proposed alteration of the law with regard to rating, the Government intend to interfere with the preparation of the Quinquennial Valuation List, 1915, now carried out under the provisions of the Valuation (Metropolis) Act, 1869; and whether the Metropolitan borough councils, acting as overseers of the poor, are justified in proceeding with their arrangements in connection with this valuation as in recent years?
Pending any alteration in the law, the ordinary procedure under the existing law should for the present continue.
India Council Bill
94.
asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the India Council Bill recently rejected in another place was communicated to and approved by the Government of India before its introduction; whether its provisions were known to the representatives of the National Congress who came over to promote its passage through Parliament; and whether such provisions were made known in any other quarter?
The answer to the first and second questions is in the negative. The answer to the third question is also in the negative, save as regards the Council of India and the Viceroy who, as is usual in such cases, were apprised beforehand of the intentions of the Secretary of State.
Live Stock (Through Booking)
26.
asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware of the loss inflicted on shippers of stock from county Meath owing to the abolition of through booking in consequence of the outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in recent years; if he is aware that the cooperation of the following companies is required to restore through booking, namely, the Great Northern Railway of Ireland, the Dundalk and Newry Steam Packet Company, the London and North Western Railway Company, via Greenore, the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company, and the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company, which carries stock from the port of Drogheda; whether he is aware that all the companies named have intimated their willingness to return to through booking except the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company and the Dundalk and Newry Steamship Company; whether, having regard to the permanent importance of through booking to the small exporters in Ireland, he will confer with the President of the Board of Trade and the President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to use their joint influence with the non-complying companies to act with the others in the public interest; and, in the event of their refusal, whether facilities for space and landing will be offered in this country to those companies which have due regard to the public interest?
The Department have no doubt that the suspension of through bookings has caused loss to those engaged in the export of live stock. The companies mentioned would, of course, be parties to arrangements for through bookings. The Department are not in a position to confirm the statement in the third part of the question relating to the steamship companies. I am not satisfied that my interference at the present juncture in the manner suggested would have any useful result. The matter is to be discussed next month between representatives of the railway and shipping companies. The Department hope that satisfactory arrangements will then be made.
Local Authorities (New Grants)
45.
asked the Prime Minister whether the conditions for the new Grants to local authorities will be the same in the Revenue Bill as they were in the Schedule of the Finance Bill?
My right hon. Friend regrets that he cannot anticipate the provisions of next year's Revenue Bill at present.
Navy Estimates
49.
asked the Prime Minister if he can now fix the days for the discussion of Votes 8 and 12 of the Navy Estimates?
As regards Vote 8, I cannot yet say. I will make a statement as regards Vote 12 after questions.
Mussel Beds (Eddeston Bay)
69.
asked the Secretary for Scotland whether a mussel bed exists at Eddeston Bay, near Tain; that no payment was demanded for mussels taken by fishermen from this bed for purposes of bait until about two months ago, and that a charge was then made of £3 per boat and has now been raised to £6 per boat; whether the mussel bed in question is private property; and whether the Fishery Board are taking any steps in order to provide a supply of necessary bait for the needs of the fishing population without charge or at cost price?
I am informed by the Fishery Board that there are two mussel beds in the locality mentioned by my hon. Friend, and it is not clear to which of them the question has reference. If, however, further particulars are furnished on the points mentioned in the question the Board will make inquiry into the matter. As regards the last portion of the question, the Board have not seen the necessity for taking such steps as are suggested.
Are there not two new beds in this district? One was discovered two years ago.
I cannot say whether they are new. The Fishery Board inform me that there are two, but they cannot make sure from the question to which of them it has reference.
I will give the right hon. Gentleman the information.
Foot-And-Mouth Disease
I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture a question, of which I have given him private notice, namely: Whether he can state what arrangements are to be made in respect of the importation of Irish live stock?
The Irish Department having temporarily prohibited the movement of animals out of that portion of Ireland which lies south and east of a line drawn from Drogheda to Banacher, thence along the Shannon to Killaloe, thence to Carrick-on-suir, and Kilmacthomas, and thence to Ballyvoyle Head on the Water-ford coast, the Board made an Order yesterday, which comes into operation at midnight to-night, allowing animals coming from outside that area to be landed at Glasgow, Birkenhead (Wood-side), and Manchester, for slaughter in the landing place within ninety-six hours. The animals may be put on board at any one of the following ports: Ballina, Belfast, Coleraine, Cork, Dundalk, Drogheda, Greenore, Larne, Limerick, Londonderry, Milford, Mulroy, Newry, Portrush, Sligo, Westport.
Do I understand that Dublin, Wexford, and Waterford are excluded from the list of ports that may send cattle?
Yes, Sir, for the present we are not receiving animals from those three ports?
When does the right hon. Gentleman expect to be able to free these ports?
If all goes well and nothing untoward arises during the next few days, we hope to be receiving animals from these ports at the end of next week.
What does a few days mean?
Are we to understand that no Irish store cattle are for the present to be admitted into any port of Great Britain?
No, Sir, for the present we are not receiving any Irish store cattle. We are receiving cattle for slaughter.